The first one is Vietnamese, 5 Spice without "s" at the end). Located in a beautiful ancient French house full of antiques and artworks, it counts several small rooms; Everything is perfect : welcome, food and service, and the prices quite reasonable. 27 Hông Phuc (small street behind Dong Xuan Central Market) 09 16 78 81 187

The second one is French, Fabrik, and no wonder is great : the Chef Olivier was working for world-famous Chef Alain Ducasse and he was, for 40 years, the Executive Chef of the 5 restaurants of the 5-stars Metropole hotel in Hanoi. Not cheap, but worth every penny. 16 Tran Vu (small street on the south edge of Truc Back lake, south of Tây Hô Lake) 09 02 17 48 50

The third is probably the best Italian restaurant in Vietnam, La Florentina ; large dining-room, extensive menu, fantastic food (I had an extraordinary mushroom soup, very creamy, and the best mushroom risotto on Earth) and perfect service. Curiously, the Chef is from Sri Lanka, but he worked for 40 years in Italy. 20 Dong Thai Mai (northern edge of Lake Tây Hô) +84 33 33 08 742

For the 3 of them, advanced reservation a must on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

2nd and 3rd are not serving anything local. I don't know how you rate them as the best restaurant in Hanoi.

My title is "Sensational restaurants"', not "Sensational VIET restaurants", ! IAfter about one week of Vietnamese food three times a day, foreign tourists like to eat something else, which explains that those restaurants welcome a lot of tourists in addition to the Locals. Any good address to give ?

What did you eat at the first two places?

Who says that I one cannot recommend restaurants which do not serve Vietnamese food. Obviously, you ignore completely that, after about one week of eating Viet food 3 times a day, Western tourists like to eat some occidental food ; the proof : those restaurants are full of Occidental tourists. PLEASE write about what you know !!! Any good addresses you can give ????

I add to my list the excellent Indian restaurant MAAZI (it means "Memory" in Hindu). Terrace and small elegant interior room, superb cuisine and very smiley service. Perfect !!!
40 Xuan Dieu St (on north tip of the great lake (Hô Tây)

In the Dao Tien, mostly fried fish. The Dao Tien offers a huge plate for 2 of delicious sea-food. Add a glass or two of cold Chardonnay and you are in paradise. Same in Madam Kieu (her fish stew is a marvel !)

MY mistake. the Dao Tien is in Hoi An, not in Hanoi

At the 5 Spice, I strongly recommend the goose dish. At Fabrik, its duck confit is perfect

My recommendations for the best authentic Vietnamese cusine are Chao Ban restaurants, Bep Quan and Cha Ca Anh Vu.

Chao Ban is perfect indeed (advance reservation is a must on

I now only the excellent Cha Ca La Vong 107 Nguyen Truong. no reservation needed
5 Spice is also perfect 22 Hong Phuc. Reservation if a Must at +84 24 37 15 3020 or +84 09 91 67 86 118